Colts rugby: Finals’ Team of the Week, GPS fairytale continues:

Colts rugby semi-finals: GPS add to its fairytale season ahead of decider against Easts plus, the finals’ Team of the Week.

Queensland rugby’s fairytale of the season continued today when GPS progressed into the colts 1 rugby grand final.

Winless in colts 1 during the 2020 season, GPS will now play minor premiers Easts who deservedly made their way into next Sunday’s big dance at Suncorp Stadium..

Easts accounted for Bond University 17-nil on Saturday, while GPS defeated Brothers 30-14 in a match that was much, much closer than the scores indicated.

Indeed trailing 16-14, Brothers were coming to get GPS after outstanding Brothers No.8 Oliver Harvey finished off a pick and drive movement to score.

GPS players and supporters celebrate

But just as they have all season, GPS didn’t just talk tough, they played tough to bite down hard on their mouth guards and repel their dangerous rivals who were brilliantly guided around by halfback Louis Werchon.

But it wasn’t all desire, it was execution as well which contributed to the GPS win.

Easts Tigers celebrate a scrum win.

“We are not the most talented team on paper, so it is important we execute our jobs and our roles well enough to get results,’’ said coach Visesio Kite said.

“It (our success) is a product of all the boys buying in and all trying to do their jobs to the best they can.’’

GPS’ progression into the grand final is a triumph for the likes of Tom Valentine, Nick Baker, Bas Ward, Harry Barker and Tim Cox who endured a winless 2020.

Brothers celebrate one of their tries

An influx of blue collar players like Ethan Lucey and Campbell Moller joined during the off-season, along with with the classy Floyd Aubrey and front row powerhouses Tevita Kaitu’u and prop Peter Halapoi.

“Everyone has just believed. A lot of these guys have come from winning cultures, and they have all just believed in what we are trying to do. And it is a little bit bigger than themselves.

“It is about trying to turn this program around.’’

Line out action from the finals.

GPS skipped away to a 13-nil lead after Harry Barker crossed, while dead eye goal kicking from halfback Cullin Cooper-Jones helped.

The GPS scrum was outstanding in this period, but steadily Brothers recovered, gained a foothold and challenged GPS through the middle.

With halftime looming, No.9 Werchon produced a wonderful inside ball for prop Tim Faingaanuku to power over, reducing the score to 13-7.

Into the second half, Brothers repeated the pick and drive effort, with Harvey deservedly crossing.

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But with the game in the balance, GPS continued to work hard defensively at both ends of the field.

A crucial try was when Aburey looked left but stepped right to score from close range after GPS No.10 Ward had made a tackle and his centre Rosanowksi had swooped on ball on the ground.

With that momentum GPS shifted left, with Aubrey crossing.

Bond halfback Ezekiel Stewart darts away.

On Saturday Easts, the best side all season, defended its way into the final with a shut-out of Bond Uni.

With a big, powerful three-quarter line, elite scrum, mixed with its vigorous forward effort, the Tigers are the best balanced side in the competition and it showed on Saturday.

“I would not be lying if I said they are the best team in the comp. And they have been all year. The challenge is ahead of us,’’ Kite said.

Brothers drive forward into the teeth of the GPS defence.

But Bond would not go away, challenging Easts with aggressive pick and drive play which took them to the brink of scoring 10 minutes from full-time.

However, again Easts’ defence was to the fore, winning a breakdown penalty and subsequently triggering a perfect exit after the midfield carried the ball forward, and halfback Will Kirk had punched a kick down field to the corner.

Scrum time in the Bond-Easts semi-final.

It was copy book semi-final rugby.

Kirk’s 47m penalty five minutes from time then put Bond to sleep.

The Easts scrum was again mighty, once winning a penalty when Easts were defending, and then snaring a tight-head win when Bond had midfield attack ball.

And the Tigers centres Tyree Wilson and Francis Pona were enormous, and the Tigers will take some holding on grand final day.

TEAM OF THE WEEK

15. Meli Dreu (Easts)

14. Lachlan Tokome (Easts)

13. Tyree Wilson (Easts)

12. Francis Pona (Easts)

11. Meli Drue (Easts)

10. Bas Ward (GPS)

9. Will Kirk (Easts)

8. Oliver Harvey (Brothers)

7. Nick Baker (GPS)

6. Mitchell Lowrie (Brothers)

5. Ethan Lucey (GPS)

4. Charlie Scott (Easts)

3. Peter Halapoi (GPS).

2. Tevita Kaitu’u (GPS)

1. James Durheim (Easts)

Res: Cullin Cooper-Jones (GPS), Louis Werchon (Brothers), Tau Tuisamoa (GPS), George Nield (Bond), Marlon Jones (Bond), Jack Dondon (Easts), Lachlan Howse (GPS), Zac Crothers (Easts).